The return of the king! Disney has just revealed that The Mandalorian will be returning for its third season on March 1, 2023, only on Disney+.
The Mandalorian and Grogu return March 1, only on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/99K7JiDlbH
— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) December 1, 2022
The Mandalorian was the first Star Wars show to premiere on Disney+, and probably still the best known. It follows the titular Mandalorian warrior, Din Djarin, and his young charge Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, as they jet around the galaxy having adventures.
The last we left them, Grogu had reunited with Din after spending some time learning the ways of the Jedi from none other than Luke Freaking Skywalker. Din, meanwhile, may have accidentally become the ruler of the planet Mandalore. There are plenty of directions for the story to go.
What’s the best Star Wars show on Disney: The Mandalorian or Andor?
Since The Mandalorian premiered back in 2019, Disney has flooded its streaming service with Star Wars shows, but few have approached ol’ Mando when it comes to that magical balance of quality and mass appeal. Obi-Wan Kenobi was fun, but leaned a little too hard on nostalgia. The Book of Boba Fett was essentially The Mandalorian season 2.5. Animated series like The Bad Batch, Visions and Tales of the Jedi were well-received but flew a bit under the radar.
And then there was the latest Star Wars show: Andor, about the early days of the Rebel alliance. This series distinguished itself by getting as far away from Jedis, lightsabers, and adorable Yoda puppets as it could. Andor is gritty, dark, and uncommonly heavy for a Star Wars story, and told with a lot of respect for its characters and its audience. Has it eclipsed The Mandalorian as the best Star Wars show on the market?
Personally, I think the shows are too different to really compare; The Mandalorian is more of a traditional Star Wars fable while Andor is a grimmer, more granular story about dominance and resistance. I see them as the Best in Show for two very different categories.
Still, some healthy competition in the Star Wars universe can only benefit viewers. And there’s more on the way. We also have a show about Ahsoka Tano in the pipeline, starring Rosario Dawson in the lead role. The galaxy far, far away is getting crowded, but if the quality remains high, who’s gonna complain?
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